Welcome
2015-2016 School Year
http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/communityhouseMS/_layouts/15/CharMeckSchoolFiles/school_announcementdetails.aspx?id=310
Check back soon for an up to date materials list for the upcoming school year. Also, be sure to check the calendars page for future concert and trip dates for all members of the CHMS band.
Welcome to 2015
I hope everyone is enjoying their winter break. As we head into the 2015 school year I am looking forward to many exciting performance opportunities for the next 12 months. Listed below are several announcements and reminders for band students and families.
7th and 8th Grade Students:
The week of Jan 5th-9th will be our seating auditions for 3rd quarter. Assignments were made for which scales and pieces you would be playing on this test. If you have a question about what you were assigned, please email me at [email protected]
8th Grade Students going to Atlanta:
Student and Chaperone account information and payment schedule will be given out during the week we return from winter break. Payment #1 is due by January 31st.
6th Grade band Students:
Instrument switch auditions will happen in class the week we return from break. Read over the audition materials for the instrument you are wanting to switch to and be prepared.
All-District and All-State Solo Recordings
http://www.wcu.edu/academics/departments-schools-colleges/FPA/schools-departments-and-centers/music/music-alumni-and-friends/north-carolina-all-state-solos-2012-13.asp
8th Grade Atlanta Deposit Due October 10th
The $75 deposit for the trip to Atlanta is due Friday October 10th. Please make checks payable to our parent organization CHMS BRAVO.
6th Grade Open House
It's that time of year again and the open house schedule has been posted. You can find more information about your assigned open house time here:
Spring Concert Update
7th and 8th Grade Spring Concert: Tuesday May 6th at 6:30 pm
6th Grade Spring Concert: Monday May 12th at 6:30 pm
Admission to both events in completely free!!!! I hope to see you there!
Semester 1 Playing Test!!!
Test Materials:
Concert Bb, Eb, Ab, G, F, C scales one octave
Additionally a one octave Bb Chromatic Scale on quarter notes
Students wishing to complete their test at home:
Record youself playing all of the testing materials using audacity and email your recording to [email protected]
Students wishing to complete their test in class:
We will be going alphabetically in order through each section. You will have 8 minutes in class to finish your recording in my office.
Winter Concerts!!!
Tuesday December 3rd: 6th Grade Band
6:00 pm: Arrive at CHMS
- 6th Grade Band members report to the gym
6:30 pm: Concert begins
Tuesday December 10th: Jazz Band, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band
6:00 pm: Arrive at CHMS
- Jazz Band members report to the Gym
- 7th Grade Band members report to the Band Room
- 8th Grade Band members report to the Orchestra Room
6:30 pm: Jazz Band Concert starts
~ 7:00 pm: 7th Grade Band Concert starts
~ 7:30 pm: 8th Grade Band Concert starts
All-District Solo Recordings
http://www.wcu.edu/academics/departments-schools-colleges/FPA/schools-departments-and-centers/music/music-alumni-and-friends/north-carolina-all-state-solos-2012-13.asp
6th Grade Woodwinds Chair Placement Information
1. Download Audacity : http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
2. Click Record (button with red circle)
3. Play Concert Bb scale
4. Play Concert Eb scale (Flutes only)
5. Play Concert F scale (Clarinets and Also Sax only)
6. Click Stop (button with yellow square)
7. Save file as firstname_lastname chair placement exam
8. Email the file to [email protected]
If recording at home is not an option students still have the opportunity to record during class.
Chair Placement Exam Update and Audacity
1. Download Audacity : http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
2. Click Record (button with red circle)
3. Play Concert Bb scale
4. Play Concert Eb scale
5. Play Concert C scale
6. Play Concert Ab scale
7. Click Stop (button with yellow square)
8. Save file as firstname_lastname chair placement exam
9. Email the file to [email protected]
If recording at home is not an option students still have the opportunity to record during class.
Chair Placement Exam September 16th - September 27th
- Flute and Oboe – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
- Clarinet and Tenor Saxophone – Ab, F, Eb, Bb and Sight Reading
- Alto and Bari Saxophone – Bb, Ab, Eb, F and Sight Reading
- Trumpet – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
- Horn - Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
- Trombone – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
- Tuba – Bb, Ab, C, Eb, and Sight Reading
- Percussion (Snare Drum) Rudiments 1,2,4,6 and 16 from the following website http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php
- Percussion (Mallets) Bb and C Scale
Go-Play-Save Fundraiser Ends this Friday!!!
Jazz Band Audition Information
If your child is auditioning for Jazz band they should have with them an index card with their audition time and date noted on it. These auditions will take place of the next two weeks and results will be announced Thursday and Friday September 12th and 13th in class. Jazz band rehearsals will begin during enrichment during the week of September 16th. Practice for each scale listed below can be found on the Chip de Stefano warm-ups that I asked each student to download during the first week of classes. Sight reading will be done through Smart Music Exercises Level 3. Good luck to each of you!!!
Sight Reading – Smart Music Exercises Level 3
- Flute – Scales Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
- Clarinet and Tenor Saxophone – Ab, F, Eb, Bb and Sight Reading
- Alto and Bari Saxophone – Bb, Ab, Eb, F and Sight Reading
- Trumpet – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
- Trombone – Bb, Ab, C, Eb and Sight Reading
- Tuba – Bb, Ab, C, Eb, and Sight Reading
- String Bass – D, C, G and Sight Reading
- Piano - Bb, Ab, C, Eb (all multiple octaves) and Sight Reading
- Drum Set – Rudiments 1,2,3,4,6,7,9 and 16 from the following website http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php and Sight Reading
***All Scales are marked in Concert Pitch***
Beginning of School Homework
Reminder for 7th and 8th grade Band students. The homework I assigned in class will be due the 3rd and 4th days of school (Wednesday and Thursday). For those of you that might not have written the assignment down or may have forgotten what the assignment was, you need to click on the Downloads tab at the top of this page, find the "free music section" and click the Chip De Stefano Warm Up Exercises link. Download and print the warm up for your instrument and bring it in to class. These warm ups will go into your band notebook.
Open House and Go-Play-Save Fundraiser Kickoff
It was wonderful meeting all of the parents and students at todays open house. For those of you that could not attend, do not worry I will pass out all of the same information to your students on the first couple of days of school.
Our annual Go-Play-Save fundraiser will kick off Wednesday August 28th and will conclude September 13th. Each student will be asked to try and sell 5 books during this fundraiser. The Go-Play-Save fundraiser is the only fundraiser that we do each year and your contribution is very helpful in helping provide the band program the funds we need to operate throughout the year.

Bravo Booster Club
Due to the lack of funding from CMS, the Bravo Booster Club is the sole support system for Mr. Shives and the band program. The Bravo Board Members are as follows:
Band Director -- David Shives
Orchestra Director -- Courtney Guthrie
President --
Band VP (7th/8th Grade) -- Frances Byrom
Band VP (6th Grade) -- Subah Vardi
Fundraising --
Would you like to volunteer?
We
are always in need of volunteers for chaperoning, assisting with
fundraisers and many other things. If you would like to volunteer,
please email Mr. Shives and he will give you the email address of the
appropriate VP.